Kristen Caissie of Moon Canyon

This Los Angeles designer tells us about her inspiration, tastes, and how music and poetry play into her dreamy style

 

Kristen Caissie of Moon Canyon
Kristen Caissie puts the final touches on one of her creations, which includes bunches of spidery, wild clematis. Photo by Corbin Gurkin

Flower: In three words, how would you describe your floral aesthetic? Kristen Caissie: Natural, wild, and romantic.

What flower best represents your personality and why? I feel like I’m a daffodil. It’s always been my favorite flower. I connect to its ability to grow almost anywhere and persevere through the semi-frozen ground toward the sunshine.

What’s your favorite floral trend? I love how ikebana is inspiring a lot of florists these days. I love the simplicity of form and can really connect to that style of design.

If you weren’t a floral designer, you might be a… I have an entrepreneurial spirit, so I think having my own business would still be something I would pursue. I’ve always wanted to share my yoga and meditation practice with others, so I think it would be something with that.

Kristen Caissie of Moon Canyon
An arrangement with overflowing garden roses, foxgloves, ranunculus, and fritillarias sits above a flowering beavertail cactus. Photo © In Full Flower by Gemma Ingalls and Andrew Ingalls, Rizzoli New York, 2017

Who are three people that inspire you? My grandmother inspired me the most with her ability to share love. She always kept the most beautiful garden and shared her love of flowers with me. My son, Henry, is also so inspiring to me. He’s 2, and I adore watching his new sense of wonder and how fresh his perspective of life is. Finally, music plays an enormous role in my inspiration process and really touches my heart. George Harrison is the most inspiring musician for me. I really respond to his spiritual side and how he tries to help others become in touch with their spirituality through song.

When and where would you say you’re the happiest? In the mountains with my son and husband. Anytime we can steal away from the city, we do.

If you could only take three books with you on a journey into space, what would they be and why? William Blake’s The Complete Works is my bible. I was a literature major, and Blake has shaped my life so much. I just couldn’t imagine not getting to read his work while flying through space. Then, Emily Dickinson’s complete book of poetry for the same reason as Blake. And then I’d probably want some sort of nonfiction biography or such—maybe the life and times of some musician.

Kristen Caissie of Moon Canyon
A centerpiece overflowing with dahlias and eucalyptus sets the tone for an outdoor birthday dinner. Photo by Nicki Sebastian

Your musical tastes lean toward… I listen to a lot of old country when I’m working, like Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Waylon Jennings. And, of course, I also love the Beatles.

Name three things that are essential to your well-being or that you dread being discontinued. Meditation is key to my well-being. I also love my friend Shiva Rose’s face and body products. I don’t ever want those to go away. And I also believe in margaritas with my girls. I love them and I love margs—I couldn’t live without those times together.

What’s your TV show obsession right now? I’m super into Twin Peaks, and so excited to have the new season coming out.

When you feel like indulging, what’s your food of choice? Tacos!

Your favorite travel destinations are… I love being in nature and going on hikes. Places my family and I frequent are Big Sur, Yosemite, Tahoe, and Joshua Tree. We are very lucky to live in a place where we can take all these amazing road trips.

Kristen Caissie of Moon Canyon
Caissie’s signature look is her wild, romantic arrangements, like this one made with local garden roses, orchids, muscari, anemones, and cosmos. Photo © In Full Flower by Gemma Ingalls and Andrew Ingalls, Rizzoli New York, 2017

Flowers are truly in my bones. It’s the thing that speaks to me higher than all other forms of expression, and in that is my freedom. I spent a large part of my younger days trying to get to know myself and flowers is it for me.

Caissie is featured in the book, In Full Flower (Rizzoli New York, 2017). Follow Moon Canyon Design on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest.

Produced by Jena Hippensteel